HELLENIC LEAGUE: Shrivvy boss praying for a miracle

SHRIVENHAM manager Dave Turner says he’ll be hoping for a miracle in his side’s Bluefin Sports Challenge Cup game against Wantage.

“I’m not even a religious man but I’ll be saying a little prayer before Saturday,” Turner told the Advertiser.

“We’re up against it because we’re playing against one of the best teams in the league, if not the best team in the league in Wantage Town. They’re a top side and in all honesty I’d like to see them win the title this season because the way they play.”

Wantage are currently third in the Hellenic League Premier, 13 places about Shrivenham, and will be bringing one of the league’s best away records to Barrington Park.

Turner was insistent that despite his low expectations of a positive result on Saturday he’ll be putting out his strongest side and going for the win.

“It’s a game of football, things can happen. Realistically it’s a massive ask but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t be going out there giving it everything we’ve got,” Turner said.

“I’m not looking to take the pressure off by looking at their league table and using that as motivation, I can’t dress it any other way than we’ll have to give it our best and get a bit of luck.”

Dan Drewitt is cup-tied after appearing for Fairford in round one against Wantage.

Also missing will be Nathan Blackford, who picked up a nasty injury in Shrivenham’s Floodlit Cup win over Tuffley Rovers.

“We’re hoping it’s just an impact and not a ligament injury, he can’t put any pressure on it today so I’ll rule him out of Saturday,” said Turner. “I’ll have to hear back from the physio and the experts before we can say how long he’ll be out for.”

Shrivenham may have come out on top against Tuffley but Turner will be making wholesale changes to the team for Wantage.

“It’ll be a very different side to the one we put on Wednesday that was an experimental side to try a few things out,” he said.

Turner is especially pleased that he can make so many changes and still get wins. He said his side’s cup form is a barometer of the how far they’ve come.

“We’re a work in progress. If you look at where we were last season at this stage in the cups we were out of all of them before Christmas, so that shows far we’ve come. “